Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

• Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
• Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
• List out all that you are grateful for.
• Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Bible Text: 2 Samuel 23:1-12 (ESV)

¹ Now these are the last words of David:

  The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,

    the oracle of the man who was raised on high,

    the anointed of the God of Jacob,

    the sweet psalmist of Israel:

² “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me;

    his word is on my tongue.

³ The God of Israel has spoken;

    the Rock of Israel has said to me:

  When one rules justly over men,

    ruling in the fear of God,

⁴ he dawns on them like the morning light,

    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,

    like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

⁵ “For does not my house stand so with God?

    For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,

    ordered in all things and secure.

  For will he not cause to prosper

    all my help and my desire?

⁶ But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown  

  away,

    for they cannot be taken with the hand;

⁷ but the man who touches them

    arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,

    and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

⁸ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

⁹ And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. ¹⁰ He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

¹¹ And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.

Reflection Questions

2 Samuel 23:8-12

•       Reflect on the fact that while “the men of Israel withdrew,” Eleazar “rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary.”  Again, “the men fled” but Shammah “took his stand.”  What does it take to stand my ground when others flee? 

•       Notice that after Eleazar and Shammah’s valiant actions are described, the text follows with the words, “the Lord worked a great victory.” What can I learn about how God works and the role I need to play in his kingdom work? 

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Prayer